THE INFLUENCE OF CHRISTIAN TEACHINGS ON INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE (IPV) IN KILIFI COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the influence of interpretation of Christian teachings on IPV on Christian Women in Kilifi County, Kenya. Kilifi County is one of the counties with the highest number of reported cases of Violence on women. Data from the Ministry of Public Service and Gender in Kilifi County informed 800 cases of violence on women in 2015, while Kilifi Recovery Center for Gender Based Violence had 479 cases the same year. Most women continue to persevere in these relationships. Although there are studies on violence on women, how Christian teachings are interpreted and used to promote and influence Christian women to persevere in abusive marriages has not received much attention thus the need for this research. This study used two theologies, namely: African Women Theology and Pastoral Theology. The target population was women in IPV relationships. The sample size was 30 women selected through snow ball sampling method, 10 pastors selected through random sampling and 12 workers dealing with victims of IPV were selected through purposive sampling. Primary data sources were: oral interviews, focused group discussions and questionnaires while secondary data included: books, magazines, journals and newspapers; they were analyzed considering their usefulness in the study. Quantitative demographic data and findings processed from questioners were presented in graphs and tables displaying their frequencies and percentages. Qualitative data collected from in-depth interviews from women, pastors and focus group discussions was recorded and transformed into notes. The data was then organized into themes according to the objectives of the study. This qualitative data was then presented through textual and structural descriptions after quantifying them. The study established that several Christian teachings were used to promote and justify IPV against women. Some of these teachings are found in Ephesians 5:21-22 which talks of women being submissive to their husbands and 1 Cor 11:4 that talks of man being the head of the family. IPV victims were affected in diverse ways such as; permanent bodily harm, stress and depression while others were socialized to see abuse as normal. Victims of IPV applied both religious and non-religious strategies to cope with the abuse such as: pastoral counseling, economically empowered to persevere in marriages, some received advice and information from workshops and seminars they attended while others applied rationalization. Non-religious strategies applied by abused women include: support from relatives and friends, use of African traditional ways such as use of witchcraft to cope with the abuse. The Church mitigated IPV through the following mechanisms: pastoral counseling, receiving care and support from the church and mitigation from government. This study went on to recommend that both the national and county governments should work together and set up a gender violence recovery center in each sub-county. The study also recommended setting up of shelter centers in churches. This study recommended the church should work with the government to enact punitive laws to be applied when judging wife abusers and condemn all patriarchal practices that are harmful to women such as: F.G.M and wife cleansing.